Political Notebook: Lawmaker sparks buzz he may challenge Alexander

Conservative and tea party activists were abuzz Wednesday over a rumor that state Sen. Mark Green, a well-regarded first-term Republican lawmaker from Clarksville, had withdrawn his endorsement of U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander.

An email from the Middle Tennessee tea party group Sumner United for Responsible Government stirred things up by saying Green had canceled a July 20 appearance in Smyrna over Alexander's vote on immigration reform. Alexander and fellow Sen. Bob Corker were among the few Republicans to favor the bill that passed the Senate late last month.

A spokeswoman, Darlene Schilcher, said Wednesday that Green had canceled the appearance because he has family coming in from out of state that day.

- Chas Sisk

Straw poll shows Tygard as conservative leader for mayor

In a conservatives' snapshot of a race still two years away, Davidson County Republicans have picked Bellevue-area At-large Councilman Charlie Tygard as their early choice. But don't count on the longtime Metro politico to pursue Nashville's top post.

"That was news to me," Tygard told The Tennessean. "I have no plans to do so."

He's referring to his impressive performance in last month's Davidson County Republican Party Picnic straw poll that sized up preference in the 2015 mayor's race. Tygard, known for his fiscal-conservative streak, collected 27 percent of votes from those who attended.

He finished well ahead of second-place finisher Kenneth Eaton, the former used car salesman and political gadfly who finished last in the 2007 mayor's race. Eaton, who unsuccessfully ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2008 as well, garnered 19 percent of the vote, a showing that suggests the field clearly isn't settled.

Third place, with 16 percent, went to Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, who earlier this week told The Tennessean it is "very unlikely" that he runs for mayor in 2015.

Other receiving votes, according to a DCRP press release, included Metro Councilwoman Emily Evans, Councilman Carter Todd and businessman Bill Freeman, who ironically is a former treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Of course, the only problem with this particular snapshot is that historically only Democrats have captured the nonpartisan mayor's office in blue-leaning Davidson County. This isn't likely to change.

- Joey Garrison

Kane steps down from LEAD, prompting political speculation

Speaking of the 2015 mayor's race, Jeremy Kane stepped down as CEO of LEAD Public Schools, the charter school network he founded a decade ago, turning speculation fully to his political ambitions.

Will the 34-year-old Kane, who has never held public office, make a run for mayor in 2015?

"I'm honored to be mentioned, " Kane said, adding that he and his wife, Tracy, would "explore this possibility and all possibilities."

In a farewell email to friends, Kane said his final day as LEAD's CEO was last Sunday and highlighted LEAD's portfolio of glowing press coverage over the years.

As so many reporters noted during those early days, Kane famously mortgaged his house to help raise $1.5 million to open his first school.

He knocked on thousands of doors.

It's the kind of stuff that would make for a great first campaign ad. You can bet that every 2015 mayoral candidate will be touting education and his or her No. 1 priority.

Kane is widely known to be weighing a run, as his email reinforced.

"I'm also excited that, with a little extra time, I can begin exploring what's next for me," he wrote. "Whatever that is, I know it will include you and the city we love."

So far, the lone candidate to show visible signs of launching a mayoral campaign is At-large Councilwoman Megan Barry.